House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2006, with 48% of the vote.
Taxation December 6th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, as a result of Friday's numbers I will provide some further quotes. A headline in the Globe and Mail of December 4 read: “Good fiscal policy is now starting to pay for all Canadians”. The Toronto-Dominion Bank was quoted as saying: “The headline increase in new jobs conceals an even stronger picture below the surface”. “All signs point to a further decline in the unemployment rate”.
I am sure I will have the occasion to provide more citations in the questions to follow.
Education December 2nd, 1999
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member must be aware that in the 1998 budget, the opportunities budget, the government spent in excess of $7 billion to guarantee access to knowledge, including the millennium scholarships, the 17% credit on student loans, and the $3,000 grant to single parents to enable them to go back to school.
It is our intention in future budgets to assist students, to assist—
Taxation December 2nd, 1999
Mr. Speaker, Canadians are entitled to more enlightened debate in the House than the Reform Party is prepared to put out.
The fact is that the Reform Party's program would not have cut taxes until the year 2000. The Reform Party would not have cut EI premiums for workers. The real fact of the matter is that the Reform Party would not have eliminated the deficit until the year 2000.
We did it two years earlier than it would have. It would not have cut taxes until the year 2000. We began to do it two and a half years before it would have. The real problem with the Reform Party is that it has—
Taxation December 2nd, 1999
Mr. Speaker, not only is that not our policy but, if we take a look at what our policies have done since we have taken office, there have been 1.7 million new jobs created in the country, 700,000 jobs created in the last year alone.
When we look at all the projections that came out this week in terms of the increase in our gross domestic product, in terms of job creation and in terms of business profits, it is very clear that the Canadian economy is firing on all cylinders. We now have the best record of any of the major industrial countries. Those are the facts.
Taxation December 2nd, 1999
Mr. Speaker, I made it very clear. Businesses pay tax on the instalment basis, but I would be delighted to look into that issue along with the Minister of National Revenue.
The real question is: Do members of the Reform Party think it is fair that they would have delayed any tax reductions for three years after we had eliminated the deficit?
Taxation December 2nd, 1999
Mr. Speaker, quite obviously I do not have the details of this case. As I have explained to the hon. member, the fact is that businesses pay tax on the instalment basis. I am very interested in Mary's case and would be delighted to look into it.
I am also interested in Doreen and all the other people whom the hon. member raised last week. The real issue they would like to know is why Reform members are standing in the House and talking about cutting taxes when their own party program said they would not have cut taxes until January of next year.
Taxation December 2nd, 1999
Mr. Speaker, under most income tax regimes one pays tax on an instalment basis which anticipates income that comes in. This is pretty standard practice in all tax jurisdictions in the country and throughout most of the western world.
Government Revenues December 1st, 1999
Mr. Speaker, I understand why the Reform Party is focusing on Cuba. It is because they cannot criticize this government.
Let us take a look. The numbers came out yesterday. Canada's gross domestic product advanced 4.7 in the third quarter. That is four quarters in a row. Our business investment is up an average of 12%. We are now creating jobs at a faster rate than any other G-7 country.
Government Revenues December 1st, 1999
Mr. Speaker, we are the envy of most economies around the world because our economy is doing so well.
The hon. member talks about exports. Let me give him an example. The numbers came out yesterday. Real goods and services exports surged 15% in the last quarter alone.
The leader of the opposition talks about the GST. Yes, our revenues are up because consumer confidence is up, and Canadians are buying. Our revenues are up because the economy is firing on all cylinders.
Employment Insurance November 30th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, when we took office there was a deficit of some $6 billion. In 11 of the last 17 years there has been a deficit in the fund. The reason for the accounting treatment is that it was recommended by the auditor general in 1986 and we are following that policy.
The hon. member asks why there is a surplus. The reason is, as we have seen today, that we are firing at all cylinders in our economy. There are 1.7 million Canadians back at work, 700,000 in the last year. Young Canadians are back at work. We have one of the strongest economies of any of the G-7 countries.